Stuff that we are thankful for

It's Thanksgiving evening and I'm stuffed with turkey and pecan pie.  Reina is upstairs watching a video, Will is playing a video game and Glenn is tidying the kitchen. I'm feeling guilty but also content to sit here on the couch with my feet up and tackling this blog for the first time in weeks.  We have a lot to be thankful for but first I have to address my lengthy absence. 

I've sat down to write about Halloween and the rest of football season and all of the little delights that occurred in November a few times lately. But our family has been dealing with a lot this month and I can't write about all of our foibles without talking about some tough news.  Our delightful Aunt Vicky, frequent contributor of funny stories and birthday pictures on this very blog, has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.  We've all been blindsided by this news but she has good doctors who have already embarked on an aggressive treatment plan.  She has a huge network of friends and supporters who are keeping her and Matt inundated with meals and visits and support.  She has all of us who do our best to keep her spirits up and help wherever we can.  She has a hard road ahead but we are keeping her in our prayers and holding her close to our hearts and we are hopeful that she'll come out strong on the other side. 

So it's Thanksgiving.  We had a fun day with extended family and old friends and some new ones, too.  I asked the kids earlier what they were thankful for and here you go:

Reina;  Family and her friends, one friend in particular. 

Will:  His family

Awwww, what's going on with these kids?  Good behavior because they know I'm Christmas shopping tomorrow?

Glenn:  His family, his family's health and being able to live in Wyoming.

Lucy:  Today, I'm most thankful for my sister's radiologist who saw something suspicious and didn't dismiss it. 

This space will soon be filled with funny pictures and mildly inappropriate kid anecdotes soon enough.  Tonight, hug your family and keep ours in your thoughts. 

A bunch of pictures of Will playing football at UW

Last weekend, Will had the chance to play on the city's all-star tackle football team.  The team was comprised of a few players from each regular season team, there were about 20 kids all together. They practiced for two weeks and then played a few teams from across the state/region last weekend in Laramie.  Will's team's first game was on Friday night and they played under the lights on UW's field.  What a cool opportunity! Glenn and I both took a bunch of pictures and it was hard to whittle them down to a reasonable number to put on the blog but here we go.  

Will is #23 and getting ready for the kick-off.  

On defense. 

Lined up and getting ready for a tackle.  Will helped make a goal line stand.  

Will is the second player from the right with black socks.  

Getting the defensive play from the coach.  

He obliged me with a post-game picture on the field.  

On Sunday, the temperatures warmed up and Will's team played in the sun against a team from Billings. 

Will played on the defensive line during this game.  Here he's lining up to play nose guard.  

Getting ready for another kickoff - Will is at the front of the line.  

Looking serious at halftime. 

Post-game team picture at mid-field.  

#23 with his biggest fan

No wait, this is his biggest fan.  

Will and his teammates from his regular season team.  

Will and his Grandpa Pauley who traveled up from Colorado with Grandma Pauley to watch him play.  

Elementary football season is officially done.  Now we turn our focus to homework (Will are you reading this?) and get ready for basketball.